Since it’s a dull Monday, shall we have an over-excited book review and a giveaway? Yes? OK, here goes:-
Somewhere in Greenland, there are small birds living in more luxury than you do. See this nest? It’s lined with pure qiviut – you know, that crazy-expensive luxury fibre from the tummy-fluff of the musk ox.
Lucky birds. That said, after such a pampered start in life, the chicks will probably grow up completely unable to cope with the harsh realities of the world.
You and I would have to sell the car in order to afford a really sizeable quantity of qiviut (although I’ve written before about my encounter with the stuff), but in the Greenland tundra, small birds simply pluck qiviut from bushes where it was left by moulting musk oxen. And who can blame them?
But I’m not telling you this just to make you feel inadequate about your non-qiviut-lined home. The story behind the nest photo is one of many insights in a book that’s just been published – a book that I’m really, really, excited to be showing you.*
Introducing In Search Of The World’s Finest Wools, by Dominic Dormeuil and Jean-Baptiste Rabouan, published by Firefly Books:-
To begin with a few facts: this book is a photographic journey undertaken by a textile firm boss and a photo-journalist, to witness and record the production of eight of the world’s most luxurious fibres (qiviut, cashmere, taewit, pashmina wool, Shetland wool, merino, mohair, and vicuña, in case you’re wondering). But this is no twee, prettified, album of holiday snaps: Dormeuil’s mission was to record the realities of the lives of the people who produce these fibres, at a time when those lifestyles are under threat.
Dormeuil wants us to think about the origin of – say – the cashmere jumper that we wear, to understand the generations-old skill that has gone into creating the fibre, the pride and wisdom of the producers, and the valid reasons for its high price.
I can’t help saying it, though: this book is beautiful. Really, really, beautiful. Rabouan is a genius-behind-the-lens, whether capturing baby cashmere goats at play, or the emotions of a Kyrgyz herdsman.
As for the text, each chapter is a meld of economics, social history, physical geography, and raw storytelling. We meet the individuals whose lifestyles (it’s never just a job) centre around fibre production. Several times the metaphor of quality wine production is used, to explain how only the right combination of terrain, climate, animals, and human skill will generate the finest-diameter, most lustrous, fibres. Unlike in wine production, however, it is often the most remote, or the most barren, or the coldest, or the highest-altitude environments where the best fibre is produced. These people, and their herds, are tough.
If I have a criticism, it’s that far too often, I was left wanting more information, more depth. (Why, for example, are merino sheep so very demanding to keep?) If you can imagine a scale extending from coffee-table-art-book at one end, to ruthlessly-analytical-textbook at the other end, this book is maybe slightly closer to the art-book end of the spectrum than its introduction implied that it would be. Still, I can’t really begrudge all these photos. They’re freakin’ stunning.
Oh, and the book could have used a little more copy-editing, as there were a few errors, especially around quantities (or perhaps I’m wrong, and vicuña really can run at 743 miles per hour).
But those criticisms are tiny. Mostly, I just want to say that I love this book.
In Search Of The World’s Finest Wools (Dormeuil & Rabouan, 2016) is out now, available worldwide. Hardback, 176pp. Published by Firefly Books Ltd. Recommended prices include £20.00 UK, $35.00 US, $39.95 CDN.
But to save you all that effort of trudging off to a bookshop, how would you like to win a copy? Firefly Books are very generously offering one lucky reader of this blog the chance to win a copy. And yes, this contest is open worldwide!
Usual Twisted procedures apply. To enter, leave a comment below this post. To gain a sneaky additional entry, ‘like’ this blog’s Facebook page (the page overall, I mean) AND leave a comment under the Facebook post mentioning this blog post. The contest is open from RIGHT NOW until 12.00 midday (UK time) on Monday 3rd April. After that time, one winner will be selected at random using random.org. I will contact that person to obtain their address, and pass this information on to Firefly Books, who will send out the prize. If after a week of trying, I have been unable to contact the winner, an alternative winner will be chosen at random. Does this make sense? Good luck!
∗ Yes, Firefly Books very kindly gave me a free copy to review, and offered to fund the giveaway. However they had no involvement in the content of this review. My excitement about this book is genuine.
Joanne Kenyon says
It looks a fab book, I’d love to be entered x
Cathy Chesnut says
Typos can be accepted as the photos make the book.
Carolyn says
What an interesting book this must be!
Connie G. says
This book looks wonderful.
Shiralee Gosselin says
My dream for many years has been to own my own small sheep herd and produce my own yarns from “scratch”. Would love to read about those whose life centers on that.
Mags Hobby says
It looks great! I’d love to win a copy. Fabulous photos.
Nancy says
Sounds gorgeous. Pity there aren’t samples squished in between the pages!
P S Did you know you’re on PAGE 1!!!!! of Ravelry’s hot right now patterns. Well done you!
The Twisted Yarn says
Eek! Good grief!!
rosewood11 says
What a beautiful book!!! I’ve read a little in other books about yarn, and on the surface, you’d think this wouldn’t be an exciting read. However, the truth is that it was quite interesting. The properties of the different types of fibers, and the difference even among the breeds of sheep is fascinating. Anyone who reads this book will find themselves fascinated–and then there’s the stunning photography!!! WOW!!!
Jenny Whilde says
Looks like a great book – my coffee table would love a copy (to share with my textbook shelf, of course!)
Jennifer Ashbridge says
I’d love to read this. Looks really interesting and what fabulous photos.
katactivity says
Oh goodness! I’m a book addict and an ex professional photographer. What’s not to like?
Lis says
Those photos look stunning! Definitely would love to win this book!
Pia says
Definitely something I’d like to won, as a spinner AND photographer!
Chris Scholes says
What a beautiful book. I would love to have it on my bookshelf.
Jo says
Looks fabulous x
Martine Savard says
My favourite topic — with great photography! Would love to adopt it! 🙂
Kate says
This book looks absolutely beautiful and I would love to read it!
Karen says
It looks like I’d forgive any mistakes as the artwork, and, the topic both seem equally stunning. There shouldn’t be a need to justify high prices of exquisite natural fibres! But, an understanding of the hardships both man and beast endure so that they may be available for consumers might open a few eyes. X
captelaine says
Love the photographs, and keenly interested in the subject as well…. glad folks on this side of the pond can enter this one.. I’ll give the book a good home here in Charleston SC USA.
Linda Shorthose says
Looks a very interesting book with lovely pictures
kathyreeves says
How fascinating! I would love to win this book! The photography does look amazing, and would be a great book for the studio kids to look at while they wait.
Ms Sue says
What beautiful pictures and I’d be interested in the written part too. Looks very interesting, please enter me.
Ann Shepherd says
Books and wool – two of my favourite things.
Margaret (Daisy) Lerner says
i checked this book on amazon and surprised to see there are no reviews. anyway, your review and all the comments prior to mine lead me to believe this would be a great addition to my (extensive) knitting library.
thank-you for the review and the pics and for the opportunity to get one free!
regards,
daisy 🙂
Helen Watson says
What a stunning book – rather than ‘scratch and sniff’, it makes me wish for ‘stare and squish’!
Flo says
Love this book….the photos are amazing! Thanks for the chance to win!
Christina Nunn says
Of course if Vicuna can run at 743 mph that might go some way to explaining why the fibre/yarn is so expensive!!
Jane G says
Looks like a gorgeous book about a gorgeous subject.
Jackie says
The book looks amazing…don’t let me win…I have already ordered one!!!
Jackie
Amber Sylvan says
This looks like a beautiful book!
Cheryn says
This book looks awesome!! Love the photographs.
debwray says
Looks fascinating – interesting to read just where your wool comes from!
Bekky says
The photos look breathtaking! And I’m glad to read that the traditions, skills, and histories/stories of fiber are being recorded in this! I think we yarn enthusiasts value luxury yarn (a co-worker let me hold her $100 skein of qiviut and I squee’d), but maybe not how it got to our favorite yarn store. This book sounds wonderful!
K Taylor says
Wow! The book looks stunning and sounds like interesting information. Would love to read it.
Andrea F. says
There’s a story behind every ball of natural wool and cashmere sweater – I don’t think we should ever begrudge the price attached to it when you see what it takes to produce it. Looks like a really interesting read.
Andrea
Tineke says
A gorgeous picture book about wool and it’s history! I would love to snif that book scent. Oh well, will borrow it from the library I suppose. No luck in winning things. Merino sheep can only live in very dry and hot conditions and eat a special menu because of that. Mostly only in the outback of Aussie. There are family members that are adapted to a more moist climate but their wool is slightly less soft. The wool is unique because it can be worn on the bare skin without itching. The Merino’s wool is seldom on the market for us hookers/knitters because it’s sold the wool industry. Sigh. ( this was a greedy sigh though)
V o n n a | DVon says
I see why your excitement is genuine, I’m not even holding it and I love all the pictures! Looks beautiful!
Zsu says
What a gorgeous book. I’d love to read it. I’ll add it to the Christmas wish list unless I get lucky here. 🙂
Cynthia says
The book looks beautiful! Thanks for a chance to win!
Sandra Sebastian says
I love reading your writings!!! You are fabulous, and this book looks amazing!!!!! Thank you!!!! Xoxo
Anne says
Book looks fantastic love to win it
pelagia5 says
Seems like an awesome book… just imagine the coffee conversations it would spark if left on table!
Yolanda Chavez says
What a fabulous book! And this story definitely needs telling.
Julie says
The pictures in the book look beautiful.
narf7 says
What a stonking book! I am quite sure that vicuña really can run at 743 miles per hour. I think I felt one zooming past me the other day. I have no idea why they say that merino sheep are hard to work with/look after as they are the predominate species here in Australia and as far as I can see, they mostly get left to look after themselves.
Diane G. says
Thanks for the chance to win a copy! I must admit at first reading the title of this blog post, I thought – oh just a book review, but immediately saw why you are so excited about this book – looks great & I can see why you want to let everyone know about it!
Annabel Jung says
What an interesting book. I’d love to own it x
Lenore Rhodes says
Love the book. My husband and I had merino’s when living on our property in NSW Australia. I loved the buzz surrounding shearing time, watching the men shear and the wool heading to market.
Charlotte Copper says
I’ve never mastered the task of knitting and reading, so winning will require me to rest my needles for a bit. But alas, the beautiful photos look worth the sacrifice.
Sandra says
Sheep and other fiberous beauties are so photogenic. They seem to be waiting for a close-up.